“get+宾语+不定式”与“get+宾语+现在分词”的区别

有读者问: “get+宾语+不定式”结构与“get+宾语+现在分词”结构有何区别?

当get作“劝说、请求、吩咐等”解时,其后一般应接“somebody+不定式”,如:

(1)Let's get him to buy us lunch. (劝说)

(2)I got him to help me when I moved the furniture. (请求)

(3)He got them to repair the bridge. (吩咐)

但当get作“使,设法”解时,其后则既可接“宾语+不定式”,也可接“宾语+现在分词”。二者的区别主要在于:不定式强调动作的概括性,有潜能的含义;现在分词强调动作的具体性,有连续、重复、描写等含义。总的说来,不定式似乎较现在分词更为常见一些(有些英语词典只收纳前者,未收纳后者)。现举几例试比较如下:

(4)I finally got the radio to work . (to work单纯表能运转这一概念)

(5)I finally got the radio working .(working表进入正常运转状态)

(6)Get the bus to move . (车子有故障,to move表启动)

(7)Get the bus moving . (车子不一定有故障,moving表正常运行)

get表“设法使”时,其后的宾语有时亦可指人,试比较:

(8)If you can get them to talk your problem is solved.(to talk表开口)

(9)If you can get them talking your problem is solved. (talking表交谈起来)

但如属动作短暂的非持续动词,一般只用不定式,如:

(10)Can you get the car to start ? (不可用现在分词starting)

反之,强调进行状态时,则只用现在分词,如:

(11)We'll get the party going with some music. (不用不定式to go)

最后,应该指出,“get+宾语+不定式或现在分词”结构多用于英国,美国则多用have代替get。